Upper Beaver Brook dam
Upper Beaver Brook
Upper Beaver Brook, also known as John Roscoe, is a local government-owned dam in Colorado, specifically in Clear Creek County near Golden. This earth dam, completed in 1924, primarily serves as a water supply source with a storage capacity of 587 acre-feet. The dam stands at 88 feet high, with a hydraulic height of 52 feet and a structural height of 97 feet, controlling the flow of Beaver Brook and covering a surface area of 16 acres.
With a maximum discharge capacity of 24,239 cubic feet per second, Upper Beaver Brook has an uncontrolled spillway width of 80 feet. The dam's hazard potential is categorized as high, although its condition is assessed as satisfactory as of May 2020. Despite being state-regulated and permitted, the dam poses a moderate risk (rated 3 out of 5) and is subject to regular inspections to ensure public safety.
Upper Beaver Brook plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, highlighting the intersection of infrastructure, climate, and environmental conservation. As a key element in the water supply system, it underscores the importance of sustainable dam operation and maintenance practices to mitigate potential risks and ensure the continued availability of water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Upper Beaver Brook -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Clear Creek Above Mouth Nr Blackhawk | 5 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Evergreen | 13 cfs | → |
| Chicago Creek Blw Devils Canyon Nr Idaho Sprgs Co | 9 cfs | → |
| Fall River Near Idaho Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Golden | 104 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Lawson | 128 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Beaver Brook.
Boat launches
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
Campgrounds
- Fire Lookout On Mestaa’Ėhehe Mountain
- Indian Springs Campsites
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Echo Lake - Idaho Springs
- Base Camp At Golden Gate Canyon
- Site 47
Fishing spots
- Fishing Is Fun #7
- Fishing Is Fun #8
- Fishing Is Fun #6
- Fishing Is Fun #10
- Fishing Is Fun #12
- Fishing Is Fun #11
Paddle runs
- Upper Clear Creek
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Idledale To Morrison
- Upper South Boulder Creek
More reservoirs
Track Upper Beaver Brook in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Upper Beaver Brook
Where does the data for Upper Beaver Brook come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Upper Beaver Brook.